rabble.ca - fair votehttps://rabble.ca/taxonomy/term/9431
enBuild the opposition to Trumpism in Canadahttps://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/activist-toolkit/2017/02/build-opposition-to-trumpism-canada
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-14 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Maya Bhullar</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/node-images/15908286693_12873814dc_o.png?itok=N3wmhn1_" width="1180" height="600" alt="Joe Brusky, Love Resist Divest by the Overpass Light Brigade" title="Joe Brusky, Love Resist Divest by the Overpass Light Brigade" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>Currently, the United States is headed in directions I couldn't have foretold in my worst nightmares. Perhaps I lacked imagination. Perhaps I should have read George Orwell's <em>1984 </em>more closely. I have been working to organize within the political system in the U.S. and Canada for decades and, now, all I can do is resist. As I am drawn into new networks of organizers who are building locally and globally to oppose the attacks on everything we believe in, I am inspired by the tools I am finding.</p>
<p>I hope you find these Canada-focused recommendations useful as you build your ability to resist and fight back. Please share any additional tools and campaigns you are building. I will share tools to fight things like Right to Work and other Trump proposals in the United States, but this blog is about policies which directly apply to Canada.</p>
<p><strong>1. Combat Islamophobia and stand for civil liberties</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong>Quebec had racist incidents before the recent attack at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City. So did <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryan_Guard" rel="nofollow">Alberta</a>, so did most provinces in Canada. Here is a great <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5WDgKkJJVs&lt;/p&gt;" rel="nofollow">video</a> by Aba and Preach laying this out.</p>
<p>Islamophobia, racism, and the attacks on civil liberties were not invented by Trump and are not solely Trump's fault. Fuel is being added to a long-standing movement which uses hatred, racism, sexism and xenophobia for cynical purposes. This is becoming a global phenomenon and it is gathering momentum due to the events in the United States and the convenient organizing tools on social media.</p>
<p>In a recent <a href="https://www.thestar.com/life/2017/01/31/how-to-help-in-wake-of-quebec-mosque-attack-check-in-speak-out-donate.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Toronto Star article<em> </em></a>, Farheen Khan pointed to recent history in regard to national policy, "We had a Conservative government for a decade create laws and policies and legislation that detrimentally harmed Muslim communities, be it C-51, the anti-terrorism act, or...the Barbaric Cultural Practices Act. Both are still in place." We have a lot of work to do to reverse racist and Islamophobic policies. Here are some upcoming actions.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>March:</strong> This weekend, people in provinces from coast to coast to coast are <a href="//docs.google.com/document/d/1awOa4tymbc-ZxNmv5AfknvR9KQl44Fty0ixFZ3XZqSk/edit" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">marching</a> to stand against Islamophobia in the US and in Canada. In regard to Bill C-51, organizers have moved the <a href="//www.cjfe.org/bill_c_51_is_still_law_here_s_how_we_can_repeal_it" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">National Day of Action on Surveillance, C-51 and Press Freedom</a> to February 25, 2017. Let's make sure that Bill C-51 and the overreaching attacks on civil liberties are revoked.</li>
<li><strong>Donate:</strong> Support national organizations like <a href="http://islamicreliefcanada.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Islamic Relief Canada</a>, which has set up an <a href="https://www.launchgood.com/project/helping_the_families_and_victims_of_quebec_mosque_shooting#/" rel="nofollow">online fundraising campaign</a> for the families of the victims killed in Sunday's attacks, and the <a href="https://www.nccm.ca/" rel="nofollow">National Council of Canadian Muslims</a>. We also know that many people are organizing ways to combat Islamophobia locally. Tell us about what you are doing at <a href="mailto:toolkit@rabble.ca" rel="nofollow">toolkit@rabble.ca</a></li>
<li><strong>Get involved in leadership races:</strong> Currently there are 14 people vying to lead the Conservative party and the NDP leadership race is slated for October 2017. Sign the petitions linked to the respective names and act to demand that <a href="https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/kellie-leitch-stop-your-dog-whistle-politics-and-step-down-from-the-cpc-leadership-race " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kellie Leitch </a>and <a href="http://www.stopkevinoleary.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kevin O'Leary</a> drop out of the race. We also need an NDP that can be an effective opposition to the effective right-wing field organizing and messaging strategies that helped the Tea Party and Trump win in the U.S. The Harper government had been an excellent student of the organizing strategies of the U.S. Republicans and made significant <a href="https://thetyee.ca/News/2015/10/17/Tories-Changed-Canadian-Elections/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">changes</a> to stack the deck in their favour when in power. The Liberal government has <a href="http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/11/24/news/liberals-table-bill-roll-back-harpers-changes-canadian-voting-process" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">not</a> rolled back all of these changes and has now rolled back their promise to implement <a href="http://globalnews.ca/news/3102270/justin-trudeau-liberals-electoral-reform-changing-promises/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">proportional representation</a>. Stand for fair elections and leaders who reflect our values.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>2. Boycott and divest</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong>Now there is an app for that. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/boycotttrump/id1171663655?ls=1&amp;mt=8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Boycott Trump</a> and <a href="https://grabyourwallet.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Grab Your Wallet</a> which help you boycott his products easily. If you want to go further, these are the CEOs of companies that were originally selected to sit on the Trump administration's business advisory council. A great organizer in a group I work with found their contact information. Maybe they support his policies, maybe they don't. Regardless, they meet regularly and they are global companies. Voice your dissent against the #MuslimBan and his other policies that infringe on our human rights. On February 2, Travis Kalanick from Uber <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/02/technology/uber-ceo-travis-kalanick-trump-advisory-council.html?_r=0" target="_blank" title="NYT " rel="nofollow">resigned</a> from the Advisory Council and Elon Musk <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/elon-musk-just-said-hes-staying-on-trump-advisory-council-in-wake-of-criticism/articleshow/56945617.cms" target="_blank" title="Elon Musk" rel="nofollow">wrote</a> about opposing Trump's policies.</p>
<ol>
<li>Stephen A. Schwarzman CEO of Blackstone <a href="mailto:schwarzman@blackstone.com" rel="nofollow">schwarzman@blackstone.com</a> 212-583-5000</li>
<li>Paul Atkins, CEO of Patomak Global Partners LLC 202-862-3920 <a href="mailto:patkins@patomak.com" rel="nofollow">patkins@patomak.com</a></li>
<li>Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors 313-556-5000 <a href="mailto:mary.barra@gm.com" rel="nofollow">mary.barra@gm.com</a> </li>
<li>Delos Toby Cosgrove, CEO of the Cleveland Clinic 216-444-6733 Twitter: @TobyCosgroveMD </li>
<li>Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. <a href="mailto:jamie.dimon@jpmchase.com" rel="nofollow">jamie.dimon@jpmchase.com</a> 212-270-6000 </li>
<li>Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock <a href="mailto:laurence.fink@blackrock.com" rel="nofollow">laurence.fink@blackrock.com</a> 212-810-5300 </li>
<li>Travis Kalanick, CEO of Uber <a href="mailto:travis@uber.com" rel="nofollow">travis@uber.com</a> (stepped down on Feb 2, 2017 due to community pressure) </li>
<li>Bob Iger, CEO of Disney <a href="mailto:robert.a.iger@disney.com" rel="nofollow">robert.a.iger@disney.com</a> 818-560-1000</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bcg.com/news/media-contact.aspx " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rich Lesser</a>, CEO, The Boston Consulting Group (BCG)</li>
<li>Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart <a href="mailto:Doug.McMillon@wal-mart.com" rel="nofollow">Doug.McMillon@wal-mart.com</a> </li>
<li>Jim McNerney, former CEO of The Boeing Company <a href="mailto:james.mcnerney@boeing.com" rel="nofollow">james.mcnerney@boeing.com</a></li>
<li><a href="http://ir.tesla.com/contactboard.cfm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Elon Musk</a>, CEO, SpaceX and Tesla, Twitter: @elonmusk </li>
<li>Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo <a href="mailto:indra.nooyi@pepsico.com" rel="nofollow">indra.nooyi@pepsico.com</a></li>
<li>Adebayo "Bayo" Ogunlesi, Chairman and Managing Partner, Global Infrastructure Partners 212-315-8100</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ibm.com/scripts/contact/contact/zz/en/ginni/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ginni Rometty</a>, CEO of IBM </li>
<li><a href="https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kevin Warsh</a>, economist</li>
<li>Mark Weinberger, CEO of Ernst &amp; Young <a href="mailto:mark.weinberger@uk.ey.com" rel="nofollow">mark.weinberger@uk.ey.com</a> 202-327-7720</li>
<li>Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric Twitter: @jack_welch </li>
<li>Daniel Yergin, Vice Chairman of IHS Markit Twitter: @DanielYergin </li>
</ol>
<p>For some of them, she couldn't find direct emails or phone numbers, but it is a great start for researchers and organizers among us to build off. Contact them, tell them what you think as a global customer, see what you hear back and build pressure on them.</p>
<p><strong>3. Refugees and immigrants</strong></p>
<p>Trudeau is<a href="http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Trudeaus-All-Talk-How-Canada-Limits-Taking-in-Refugees-20170129-0026.html" target="_blank" title="Telesur" rel="nofollow"> talking</a> a good game on the role of immigrants and refugees in building Canada. Right now policies like the "Safe Third Country Agreement" actually preclude Canada from accepting refugees who are not accepted in the United States. Leadnow has a <a href="https://you.leadnow.ca/petitions/tell-trudeau-welcome-those-fleeing-violence-and-deportation-under-trump" target="_blank" title="Lead Now" rel="nofollow">petition</a> to demand changes to these policies. As refugees come into Canada, we are going to need services that meet their needs. The Activist Toolkit has been <a href="http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/activist-toolkit/2016/11/this-really-community-building-what-sponsoring-syrian-refuge" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">interviewing</a> people working with refugees to meet their needs and the consensus is that Canada will need to ensure that resources are available to meet the complex needs of newly arrived refugees in the longer term. Articles like <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/hamilton-syrian-refugees-english-training-1.3948840" target="_blank" title="Refugees" rel="nofollow">this one</a> about the shortage of jobs for refugees are coming out more and more frequently, and we need to ensure that we can meet refugee needs.</p>
<p><strong>4. Climate change, pipelines, and international trade</strong></p>
<p>Trump has already <a href="http://rabble.ca/columnists/2017/01/pipeline-resistance-grows-trump-revives-keystone-xl-and-dakota-access-megaproject " rel="nofollow">approved</a> the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. Given his cabinet pick for Secretary of State, his administration will likely be approving rampant oil exploration and pipeline growth. A set of <a href="https://canadians.org/blog/it-our-standing-rock-three-first-nations-announce-lawsuit-against-kinder-morgan-and-feds" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">legal challenges</a> by Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish and Coldwater Indian First Nations communities in British Columbia and by eco-justice allies have been filed. Donate to <a href="http://pull-together.ca/" target="_blank" title="Pull Together" rel="nofollow">Pull Together</a> to support the Kinder Morgan lawsuits </p>
<p>In terms of <a href="http://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=http://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman/2017/01/23/trump-spikes-tpp-plans-to-renegotiate-nafta-but-effects-on-workers-remain-unclear/&amp;ref" target="_blank" title="FOrbes" rel="nofollow">international trade</a>, Trump has signed an executive order against the Trans Pacific Partnership and is promising to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. His goal is to abandon these agreements in favour for direct partnerships which may be more exploitative and harmful to workers and the environment, with fewer regulations. Write letters to your MP demanding that the federal government support good jobs, the environment, human rights and other key principles as central to any trading partnership.</p>
<p><strong>5. Organize in your community</strong></p>
<p>After the Civil Rights Act was passed in the United States, a bunch of activists from SNCC and other groups were in a meeting where Kwame Ture of the Black Panthers was speaking. A white activist asked him "what's next?" He answered, "now you organize your communities and we will organize ours."</p>
<p>Fundamentally it comes down to working people through the question Toni Morrison chooses to answer in this <a href="https://keyamsha.com/2014/09/14/toni-morrison-people-who-practice-racism-are-bereft/ " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">interview</a> where she speaks about the impact of racism on white people. She asks what happens "...if I take your race away and there you are all strung out and all you've got is your little self. And what is that? What are you without racism? Are you any good? Are you still strong? Are you still smart? Do you still like yourself? I mean these are the questions." The entire excerpt is brilliant because the question she answers is not "how can I help you?," instead it is about how the person who is racist is impacted by racism.</p>
<p>It is not easy to organize your family, your friends, to challenge them instead of laughing or ignoring the sexist, racist or other ism that you would address among other activists. Here is a funny but really useful video on <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdyin6uipy4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Diet Racism</a> about the everyday racist things that one may hear or do.</p>
<p>When you engage in a conversation on race, here is a great <a href="https://mic.com/articles/160832/black-lives-matter-wants-to-help-you-avoid-these-five-traps-in-difficult-talks-about-race#.qIqntnraW If" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">guide</a> from Black Lives Matter - Toronto to avoid five traps in conversations abut race. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Currently, I am busily vetting and compiling tools which would be helpful to build campaigns and will have more available soon. In terms of impacting U.S. policymakers, one of the best guides I have seen is the <a href="https://www.indivisibleguide.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Indivisible Guide</a> put together by former Congressional staffers about how to influence lawmakers. It would be amazing to see something similar for Canada. Hardy Merriman of the University of Denver has also compiled a <a href="https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Building-and-Civil-Resistance-Merriman.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">list</a> of organizing and research guides for people interested in community organizing.</p>
<p>The Activist Toolkit is an ally and amplifier in the work being done to fight for a Canada free of the contagion of Trumpism. Please do continue to send information about the work you are doing and the tools you are developing.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://secure.rabble.ca/donate/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Please chip in</a> to keep stories like these coming.</em></p>
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<p><em>Image: Flickr/Joe Brusky</em></p>
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</div></div></div>Thu, 02 Feb 2017 20:51:55 +0000The Activist Toolkit127590 at https://rabble.caWhat Canadians are saying about electoral reformhttps://rabble.ca/toolkit/reports/what-canadians-are-saying-about-electoral-reform
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-20 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/toolkit/reports">Reports</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/toolkit/reports/what-canadians-are-saying-about-electoral-reform"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/node-images/who_to_vote_for_4.jpg?itok=DRvm_veK" width="1180" height="600" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>In December, the <a href="http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/canadians_want_the_new_government_to_keep_its_promise_to_change_voting_system_by_almost_two_to_one_margin" target="_blank" title="Broadbent Institute" rel="nofollow">Broadbent Institute </a>released a report to measure Canadians' attitudes about voting system design and preferences for electoral reform. The study also estimates what the outcome of the 2015 Canadian General Election would have been, had it been run under a ranked ballot system, also known as preferential ballot, as compared to proportional representation and the current system.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/canadian_electoral_reform" target="_blank" title="Report" rel="nofollow">report</a> is enlightening. While 82% of the people in surveyed, in the largest survey of its kind on this issue, say some degree of change is necessary. However the results also outline that work needs to be done to build support for fair elections and proportional representation. </p>
<p>Does this issue matter to you? On Jan 21, join Abacus Data CEO, David Coletto, as he discusses the results of the survey. Click here to <a href="http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/electoral_reform_webinar" target="_blank" title="Webinar" rel="nofollow">register</a>. </p>
</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/civil-liberties-watch">Civil Liberties Watch</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/elections">Elections</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/political-action">Political Action</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8749">electoral reform</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags-issues/proportional-representation">proportional representation</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9431">fair vote</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4040">broadbent institute</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-23 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/regions/ca">CA</a></div></div></div>Wed, 13 Jan 2016 19:41:09 +0000maya.bhullar122459 at https://rabble.cahttps://rabble.ca/toolkit/reports/what-canadians-are-saying-about-electoral-reform#commentsWhither electoral reform: Does Justin Trudeau really want fair elections? https://rabble.ca/columnists/2016/01/whither-electoral-reform-does-justin-trudeau-really-want-fair-elections
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/politics-canada">Politics in Canada</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/elections">Elections</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/node-images/trudeau_flags_and_promises.jpg?itok=3U0k2MTf" width="1180" height="600" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p><em>Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism. <a href="https://secure.rabble.ca/donate/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chip in</a> to keep stories like these coming.</em></p>
<p><a href="https://secure.rabble.ca/donate/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="/sites/rabble/files/node-images/donategreen.png" width="120" height="30" /></a></p>
<p>Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's election pledge (and subsequent confirmation) that Canada will not have another election under first-past-the-post (FPTP) rules has morphed into a growing controversy. Trudeau's evident attraction to one option for electoral reform -- the so-called preferential ballot (or instant runoff voting -- IRV) -- and his stated opposition to proportional representation has some analysts and commentators <a href="http://ipolitics.ca/2016/01/02/do-liberals-want-electoral-reform-that-works-or-reform-that-works-for-liberals/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">smelling</a> <a href="http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/trudeau-fixing-the-vote/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">a rat</a>.</p>
<p>That's because IRV is a system that favours parties who are able to lay claim to the ideological middle ground. That is, with a preferential ballot (where voters' second choices determine the outcome in most ridings) the centrist party can garner second-choice votes from both the right- and left-wing parties -- as the Liberals clearly did in October's vote.</p>
<p>Is the fix in -- is Trudeau's (and more importantly the Liberal brain trust's) sudden love affair with electoral reform just a plan to stay in power permanently? Trudeau, as you would expect, denies any such <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/12/17/trudeau-denies-electoral-reform-aimed-at-ensuring-perpetual-liberal-reign_n_8825098.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">nefarious motivation</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Testing the IRV approach</strong></p>
<p>But more on Trudeau's ambiguous position later. Let's look at the claim behind the suspicions. A political junkie friend of mine established the following rules for applying IRV to Canada's federal scene.</p>
<blockquote><p>"When I did the calculations, I assumed that BQ votes would split roughly 70 per cent to the NDP and 30 per cent to the Libs and that Con votes would split roughly 70 per cent to the Libs and 30 per cent to the NDP. I also assumed that Green votes would split roughly 50/50 between the NDP and the Libs and that Liberal votes would split roughly 70 per cent to the NDP and 30 per cent to the Conservatives."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Applying that formula to a hypothetical riding, the outcome might look something like this:</p>
<p>Let's assume first-choice ballots were: NDP 35, Liberals 30, Conservatives 25, Greens 10. As the Greens received the fewest votes, these are redistributed based on the second choices of the Green voters. That might give you:</p>
<p>NDP 40, Lib. 35, Con 25. As nobody has reached a majority, the Conservative votes are then distributed based on the second choices of the Conservative voters. With 17 Conservative percentage points going to the Liberals and eight to the NDP, you get NDP 48, Liberals, 52. So the Liberals win -- whereas under FPTP, the NDP would have won.</p>
<p>Using the same rough formula regarding voters' likely second choices, here's what could have happened in the October election:</p>
<p>The Liberals would gain 15 seats from the Cons, 7 from the NDP, 1 from the BQ and lose 1 to the NDP for a total of 206 (actual count: 184).</p>
<p>The Conservatives would lose 15 to the Liberals and 7 to the NDP for a total of 77 (actual count: 99).</p>
<p>The NDP would gain 7 from the Conservatives, 1 from the Liberals, 1 from the BQ and lose 7 to the Libs for a total of 46 (actual count: 44).</p>
<p>The BQ would lose 1 to the NDP and 1 to the Libs for a total of 8 (10).</p>
<p>The Greens would remain unchanged at 1.</p>
<p>So under IRV the Liberals, with 39.5 per cent of the vote would be awarded 61 per cent of the seats. That is even more undemocratic than the FPTP system that IRV is supposed to fix. Under FPTP, that 39.5 per cent vote "only" got the Liberals 54 per cent of the seats. Under FPTP in the October election, the Conservatives received pretty much what they deserved: 32 per cent of the vote got them 29 per cent of the seats. But under the allegedly more democratic IRV, their 32 per cent vote would have given them just 23 per cent of the seats. (For the NDP it was a wash -- their 19 per cent got them 13 per cent of the seats under both IRV and FPTP.)</p>
<p>Of course this reflects just one election but it is easy to see why the Liberals would love to have IRV in place. In an election where they started off in third place they ended up winning by successfully occupying the middle ground. Of course you have to be smart to do that consistently -- but the NDP and Conservatives would have to be even smarter given that their political bases include large chunks of voters on the left and right respectively.</p>
<p><strong>Missing proportional representation</strong></p>
<p>It is simply a mistake to refer to IRV as a form of proportional representation because that is not what it sets out to achieve. Proportional representation is just what is suggests: a party receives seats in Parliament proportional to the percentage of votes it receives nationally. In the recent election, strict proportional representation would have seen the Liberals awarded 134 seats, the Conservatives 108, the NDP 67, the Greens 11 and the Bloc 16, mandating a minority government and some form of inter-party co-operation. </p>
<p>The agitation for electoral reform amongst civil society groups has been focussed almost exclusively on the fact that people's votes are wasted under FPTP -- that the parliamentary seats awarded often have little relationship to the total number of votes received. Fair Vote Canada points out <a href="http://ipolitics.ca/2016/01/04/under-our-winner-take-all-electoral-system-everybody-loses/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">one glaring example</a>: "In 2008, the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party achieved almost the same number of votes -- but Bloc voters elected 49 MPs and Green Party voters elected zero."</p>
<p>But, while the wasted vote phenomenon is most obvious with small parties like the Greens it can be just as true for the mainline parties. The last two elections were typical -- both the Conservatives and Liberals achieved majorities of 54 per cent of the seats with just 39.5 per cent of the votes. Justin Trudeau's statements and actions on the issue reveal that he knows what the problem is but is loath to do what is necessary to solve it. He told <a href="http://ipolitics.ca/2016/01/04/under-our-winner-take-all-electoral-system-everybody-loses/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><em>iPolitics</em></a>: "I've met and heard from far too many Canadians who are frustrated that they don't feel like their votes count."<a href="http://ipolitics.ca/2016/01/04/under-our-winner-take-all-electoral-system-everybody-loses/" rel="nofollow"></a></p>
<p>That is precisely the complaint that proportional representation is designed to address. But while Trudeau identifies the problem, he has repeatedly rejected the only genuine solution. Trudeau voted against an NDP motion calling for a system of proportional representation called <a href="http://campaign2015.fairvote.ca/proportional-representation/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mixed Member Proportional (MMP)</a> on December 19, 2014. In a free vote, the Liberal caucus was <a href="http://vimeo.com/113862688" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">evenly split</a>,<a href="http://vimeo.com/113862688" rel="nofollow"></a> with left-wing Liberals generally voting for the motion.</p>
<p>Following the vote, Trudeau's office replied to a letter from the Canadian Electoral Alliance, a group supporting PR, criticizing Trudeau's "no" vote. It <a href="http://electoralalliance.ca/justin-trudeaus-response-proportional-representation" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">stated</a>, in part:</p>
<p>"[Mr. Trudeau] does not support proportional representation, as he very deeply believes that every member of Parliament must represent actual Canadians... not just the political party that appointed them to the House of Commons."</p>
<p>But this is such an obvious red herring that it cannot sustain 18 months of scrutiny -- the timeline for legislation on the issue. Trudeau's stated objection to PR assumes that it involves a system in which voters will not have a local elected representative -- in effect, that MPs will be appointed by the parties. But <a href="http://campaign2015.fairvote.ca/proportional-representation/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MMP</a>, the system contained in the 2014 NDP resolution, does retain the riding system so every voter has access to a locally elected MP. The parties provide lists of regional candidates who are also voted for and used to top up the final number of MPs for each party in line with the percentage of votes each received. No MP is just "appointed."</p>
<p><strong>Differences in electoral reform matter<br /></strong></p>
<p>Asking people whether they want IRV or MMP is about the same as asking whether they would prefer a watermelon or a toaster. The two electoral reforms address different issues. IRV seeks to increase the legitimacy of the elected member of Parliament by ensuring the winner actually receives 50 per cent or more support based on voters' preferences. But MP legitimacy has not been a major cause of concern in Canada.</p>
<p>First, MPs in our multi-party system are not freelancers -- they are tied to parties that express a set of values and policies, and supporters expect them to vote for those values and policies. Most of the day-to-day "representation" done by MPs is related to help with filling out forms or addressing unfair treatment at the hands of some government agency. But these minor concerns don't determine how people vote.</p>
<p>The desire for electoral reform is driven not by a passion for better quality representation in the riding -- it is driven by a desire for a genuine, robust democracy where peoples' votes actually count. The evidence in favour of PR is overwhelming. Eighty-five per cent of our peer countries in the OECD have some form of proportional representation and as <a href="http://ipolitics.ca/2016/01/04/under-our-winner-take-all-electoral-system-everybody-loses/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fair Vote Canada argues</a>, they get what we want: "fair results, a representative Parliament, greater voter engagement, more collaboration, more accountability, better representation of diversity and voter choice, and stability."</p>
<p>And if Prime Minister Trudeau genuinely wants more legitimate MPs he can have that along with proportional representation. There is nothing stopping him from including a ranked ballot as a feature of a PR system. Now he just has to do it and continue to reject calls for a referendum. Sixty-three per cent of electors voted for parties supporting making every vote count -- as strong a mandate for any policy that a government is likely to get.</p>
<p><em>Editor's note: An earlier version of this column incorrectly described the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system as non-proportional. This has been corrected to refer to instant runoff voting (IRV).</em></p>
<p><em>Murray Dobbin has been a journalist, broadcaster, author and social activist for 40 years. He writes rabble's State of the Nation column, which is also found at </em>The Tyee<em>.</em></p>
<p><em>Photo: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/pmwebphotos/23090535506/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Prime Minister of Canada/flickr</a></em></p>
<p><em>Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism. <a href="https://secure.rabble.ca/donate/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chip in</a> to keep stories like these coming.</em></p>
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</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4780">Canadian politics</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8749">electoral reform</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags-issues/proportional-representation">proportional representation</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags-issues/first-past-post">first past the post</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9431">fair vote</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags-issues/single-transferable-vote">Single Transferable Vote</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags/voting-reform">voting reform</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags/proportional-voting">proportional voting</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags/trudeau-government">Trudeau government</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-23 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/regions/ca">CA</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-14 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/bios/rabble-staff/contributor/murray-dobbin">Murray Dobbin</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-story-publish-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">January 8, 2016</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-item1 field-type-link-field field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://rabble.ca/columnists/2015/10/this-should-be-our-last-first-past-post-election" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This should be our last first-past-the-post election </a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-item1-desc field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">This country&#039;s electoral system is an insult to Canadians and a humiliation before the world, most of which doesn&#039;t use it. The first order of our new government should be to kill it.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-item2 field-type-link-field field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/karl-nerenberg/2015/11/trudeaus-program-to-revive-federalism-must-include-electoral-r">Trudeau&#039;s program to revive federalism must include electoral reform</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-item2-desc field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Justin Trudeau&#039;s father could be contemptuous of the provinces. The son promises to be different. As part of his federalism agenda, he must not forget the key role of electoral reform.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-item3 field-type-link-field field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://rabble.ca/news/2015/10/anything-first-past-post-not-answer-to-canadas-electoral-problem" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&#039;Anything but first-past-the-post&#039; is not the answer to Canada&#039;s electoral problem</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-item3-desc field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Surely anything but first-past-the-post is better, right? Nope. We need proportional representation to truly have equal and fair voting.</div></div></div>Wed, 06 Jan 2016 22:56:29 +0000rabble staff122346 at https://rabble.caContinue the fight for civil, political and environmental rightshttps://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/activist-toolkit/2015/10/continue-fight-civil-political-and-environmental-rights
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-14 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Maya Bhullar</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/node-images/2014_peoples_climate_change_march_at_columbus_circle.jpg?itok=WkH-rBNG" width="1180" height="600" alt="" title="Climate change march" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p><em>Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism. <a href="https://secure.rabble.ca/donate/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chip in</a> to keep stories like these coming.</em></p>
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<p>During this, the longest election campaign in Canadian history, many amazing movements were born and strengthened. People went door-to-door getting their communities to care about issues that matter. </p>
<p>Now that Stephen Harper and the Conservatives are no longer dragging Canada down, we need to continue to build the movements that promise change. Let's get Canada back on track!</p>
<p>Here is a partial list collected of movements that have gathered momentum during this election. Please add more suggestions in the comments section and I will integrate them into the toolkit tools.</p>
<p><strong>Election reform</strong>: This was the longest and most unfair election in Canadian history. The Conservatives used, the so called <a href="http://rabble.ca/news/2014/03/top-five-posts-on-unfair-elections-act" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fair Voting Act</a>, <a href="http://rabble.ca/columnists/2015/07/millions-canadians-denied-right-to-vote-2015-federal-election" rel="nofollow">the disenfranchisement of millions of Canadians</a>, the skewing of Elections Canada finance regulations, and <a href="http://rabble.ca/columnists/2015/08/cheat-to-win-harper-electoral-game-plan" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">calling the longest election in Canadian history to maximize the money in their coffers</a>, to undermine a fundamental right of Canadians, our right to vote. Justin Trudeau and the Liberals have committed to making the next Canadian election more fair. Read about <a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/trudeau-announcing-plan-to-kill-first-past-the-post-by-the-next-election" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">the Liberal plan for election reform</a>.</p>
<p>Take action:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Support Fair Vote's Campaign 2015 and ensure that the Liberal promise to end the first past the post system is kept. <a href="http://campaign2015.fairvote.ca/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Click here</a> to learn more.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Support <a href="http://democracywatch.ca/campaigns/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Democracy Watch's campaigns</a> calling for investigations into Conservative spending on election ads and other irregularities.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Demand that the so called "Fair Elections Act" is repealed and overturned. Support the <a href="http://canadians.org/charter-challenge" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Council of Canadians' Charter Challenge related to the Fair Elections Act</a>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Immigration and refugee policies</strong>: In September 2015, No One is Illegal-Vancouver Coast Salish Territories put together <a href="http://www.neverhome.ca/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Never Home</a>, a multimedia project documenting nine years of changes to Canadian immigration policy. The project provides a comprehensive look at what that the changes to immigration policy have been and the impact of these changes on people. In September, Canadians took actions en masse to say that <a href="http://rabble.ca/news/2015/09/refugees-welcome-rallies-expose-canadas-broken-immigration-system%20http:/toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/968" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">refugees are welcome</a> in this country, and to demand that Canada accept more refugees. Now that Trudeau is in, the fight for the rights of immigrants and refugees continues.</p>
<p>Take action:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Before the election, Canadasworld.ca put together <a href="http://www.canadasworld.ca/learnmor/whatdoesea/partyposit%7E5" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this summary</a> of each party's position on immigration policy. Let's work to make sure these commitments are realized and expanded. Read No One is Illegal Toronto's <a href="http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/968" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">post</a> about the impact of this election and stand up for the rights of all the people in Canada.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The crises that sparked the refugees are welcome protests are still going on. Sponsor refugees and donate to organizations working on the ground with refugees. Oliver Sachgau and Affan Chowdhry of the Globe and Mail <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/migrant-crisis-how-canadians-can-help/article26205267/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">wrote an article </a>detailing how Canadians can help. Click through and donate.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>We need our governments to act, we need to stand up for the Canada we believe in, a Canada that does not turn its back on the world! Want to learn more about how immigration policies have changed, read this great<a href="http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/fact-check/2015/09/fact-checking-conservatives-refugee-policies" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> factcheck blog</a> on Canada's recent humanitarian relief record and visit No One Is Illegal's <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/reports/never-home-legislating-discrimination-canadian-immigration" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Never Home website</a>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>First Nations and Indigenous peoples</strong>: The Harper government was notorious for <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-government-on-collision-course-with-first-nations-1.1862819" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">contemptuously undermining</a> the rights of First Nations communities. The First Nations have been organizing with Idle No More, with campaigns to build internal capacity to challenge the Harper government's action and inaction, and by getting out the vote to get Harper out of office. <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-government-on-collision-course-with-first-nations-1.1862819" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Here</a> is what Trudeau has committed to during the campaign in regard to First Nations communities. Note that the Liberals have not committed to ending the privatization of collectively-owned indigenous land which was part of the Jobs and Growth Act, Bill C-45.</p>
<p>Take action:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Who is She: The Harper Government asserted that a focused investigation into missing and murdered Indigenous women is <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/08/21/native_teens_slaying_a_crime_not_a_sociological_phenomenon_stephen_harper_says.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">unnecessary</a> and<a href="http://www.itstartswithus-mmiw.com/background" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> defunded</a> the few initiatives that did exist to document cases. Therefore on September 9, the <a href="http://www.chiefs-of-ontario.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chiefs of Ontario</a> decided to take matters into their own hands, and launched <a href="http://www.whoisshe.ca/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Who is She?</a> -- a fundraising campaign for a First Nations-led national inquiry. According to Chief Isadore Day, the campaign needs at least $500,000 to begin the inquiry process. <a href="http://rabble.ca/news/2015/10/who-she-campaign-calls-inquiry-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Learn more</a> about the initiative by reading <em>rabble.ca's</em> Roshini Nair's interview of Chief Isadore Day. <a href="https://whoisshe.nationbuilder.com/donate" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Visit the campaign website</a> to donate, to download materials and to read <a href="http://www.whoisshe.ca/our_stories" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">accounts</a> of families and community members.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/3-minute-action/end-enbridge-support-first-nations-activists-legal-challenges" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Support PullTogether.ca</a>: There is a solid wall of opposition facing the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project in B.C., and growing opposition to Line 9. One year after the federal government approved the project, the opposition is not only strong and committed, but also growing. Enbridge now faces a total of 18 court proceedings and these cases are shining light on the questionable legal position on which the federal government stands. These legal cases are the best way to stop this pipeline. A coalition called Pull Together has come together to build support for the legal cases. Visit <a href="http://pull-together.ca/ " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pull Together</a>to support the legal cases.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Support the Unist'ot'en Camp: The Unist'ot'en camp has been standing since 2009. They have been standing up against the incursions into Unist'ot'en territory by mining and oil and gas companies. They need continued <a href="http://unistotencamp.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">support</a> to continue to stand up to threats.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Housing and homelessness</strong>: Canada's housing market is <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canadian-house-prices-35-overvalued-economist-magazine-says-1.3040698" rel="nofollow">considered to be dangerously (~35 per cent) over-valued</a>. Over 235,000 Canadians experience homelessness in a year and nearly 1 in 5 households are facing extreme housing affordability issues, according to a<a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/guide/how-to-end-homelessness-guide" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> report</a> by the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness.</p>
<p>Take action:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>The Canadian Association of Community Health Centres put together the campaign commitments of each party on affordable housing. Sign their petition and read party positions and hold them at account <a href="http://www.cachc.ca/federalelection/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Vancouver is leading the charge to control soaring housing costs by putting stricter controls on foreign investment in real estate. Sign the <a href="https://www.change.org/p/premier-christy-clark-mayor-gregor-robertson-mayors-and-city-councillors-of-the-gvrd-restrict-foreign-investment-in-greater-vancouver-s-residential-real-estate-market?recruiter=290120913&amp;utm_source=share_petition&amp;utm_medium=facebook&amp;utm_campaign=sponsor_page&amp;utm_term=des-lg-no_src-reason_msg&amp;fb_ref=Default" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">petition</a> to build controls for foreign investment in Greater Vancouver.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Environment and climate change</strong>: The Harper government's record on climate change was pathetic. On July 5, 10,000 people <a href="http://jobsjusticeclimate.ca/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">marched</a> in Toronto demanding action on Jobs, Justice and Climate. Now that the Liberals have a majority, what does that mean for the environment, climate, science and transparency? Carol Linnett is on top of things and <a href="http://www.desmog.ca/2015/10/19/what-your-new-liberal-majority-government-means-climate-environment-science-and-transparency" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">published this great blog</a> on Desmog.ca outlining the Liberal position on these issues. Obviously we will need to build actions if anything substantial is going to happen on these issues.</p>
<p>Take action:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Support the Leap manifesto: The manifesto warns that: "climate scientists have told us that this is the decade to take decisive action to prevent catastrophic global warming. That means small steps will no longer get us where we need to go…So we need to leap!" Do you agree with this proposition? <a href="https://leapmanifesto.org/en/the-leap-manifesto/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sign on</a> to support the Leap Manifesto, and do watch <em>rabble.ca</em>'s livestream of the press conference launching the manifesto <a href="http://rabble.ca/rabbletv/program-guide/2015/09/features/watch-live-tuesday-prominent-canadians-launch-manifesto-outl" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here. </a></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.change.org/p/stopping-climate-change-by-standing-up-for-canadian-environmental-policies-and-regulations" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sign on</a> to Mission Green's petition on climate change and <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/campaigns/Energy/tarsands/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">support</a> Greenpeace's work to keep <a href="http://tarsandssolutions.org/in-the-media/new-study-says-tar-sands-development-must-be-phased-out-to-keep-climate-coo" rel="nofollow">99 per cent of the tar sands in the ground</a>.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Science, civil liberties and transparency</strong>: Cancelling the long form census, muzzling scientists and destroying research capacity, attacking institutions doing work that did not support the Conservative agenda… these were just a few of the things that the Harper government did to undermine science and transparency. And then of course there was Bill C-51 which shrouded many of the attacks on civil liberties in secrecy, which Trudeau and the Liberals voted for. This <a href="http://www.desmog.ca/2015/10/19/what-your-new-liberal-majority-government-means-climate-environment-science-and-transparency" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blog</a> on Desmog.ca outlining the Liberal position on these issues. </p>
<p>Take action:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Demand access to information reform: The Liberals have committed to take action on this issue and make government records more accessible. If you care about this issue, <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/3-minute-action/sign-letter-today-to-demand-access-to-information-reform" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">sign the petition</a> to make acting on it a priority for the new government.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Kill Bill C-51: The Liberals in Parliament voted for Bill C-51. Trudeau promised to amend the bill but not to repeal it in its entirety. This Bill has too many dangerous and ill-considered elements, it needs to be repealed not amended. <a href="https://killc51.ca/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sign on to the petition</a> and support the movement against Bill C-51 in your community.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Take the <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/3-minute-action/sign-science-pledge" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Science Pledge</a>: This pledge is about standing up for science, for the long form census, for data and undoing some of the damage created by the Conservative government. Sign on now.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>We need more affordable access to internet and less archaic regulations of internet. Sign on to Open Media's <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/3-minute-action/demand-better-internet-and-digital-policy-federal-government" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Canada's Digital Future campaign</a> which demands a better internet and digital policy from the federal government.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Stand up for unions</strong>: Unions and the right of workers to bargain and to organize have been under attack under the Conservative government. We need to see the anti-union bills repealed.</p>
<p>Take Action</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Repeal Bill C-377: The Conservative government rammed through C-377 which amends the Income Tax Act to require that all labour organizations provide financial information to the Canadian Revenue Agency for public disclosure. The Canadian Revenue Agency has <a href="http://ipolitics.ca/2015/04/29/bill-c-377-could-cost-almost-double-estimated-price-cra/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">estimated</a> that implementing the new law will cost $2.6 million for the first two years, and $1.5 million every subsequent year, and that money will have to come out of the CRA's existing budget. Conservative backbencher Russ Hiebert, who introduced C-377 as a private member's bill, has said the law is an instrument of transparency. In fact, under provincial labour laws, union members already have the right to request financial records from their union, and most unions make this information available to their members at their annual Conventions. Trudeau has <a href="https://www.liberal.ca/trudeau-vows-to-repeal-anti-union-bill-c-377/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">vowed to repeal this bill</a>, let's make sure he does. The Canadian Labour Congress will be <a href="http://rabble.ca/rabble.ca/news/2015/07/unions-will-challenge-bill-c-377-first-election-then-courts" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">taking action</a> to get this bill repealed and take it through the courts if necessary.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Repeal Bill C-525: The Harper Government also made it more difficult for workers covered under the federally regulated sectors to bargain and organize with <a href="http://cupe.ca/fact-sheet-bill-c-525-employees-voting-rights-act" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bill C-525</a> the Employees Voting Rights Act. Unsuccessful Liberal candidate in Fort McMurray-Cold Lake Alberta, Ken Harrietha, is on record saying that the Liberals will <a href="http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/09/03/harrietha-says-liberals-would-repeal-bills-c-377-and-c-525" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">repeal both bills C-377 and C-525</a>, but we have to hold their feet to the fire to make sure this happens.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Stop Federal interference in the bargaining at Crown Corporations: Bill C-60, the Tories' budget implementation bill, <a href="http://www.hilltimes.com/news/politics/2013/04/30/budget-bill-gives-harper-cabinet-new-powers-over-cbc/34566" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">included a clause that allows the prime minister's cabinet to approve salaries, working conditions and collective bargaining positions for the CBC</a>, according to The Hill Times. We have all heard about the courageous fight by the postal workers to <a href="http://www.cupw.ca/en/campaigns-and-issues" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">fight for home mail delivery. </a>The Trudeau Liberals have been "<a href="http://www.cupw.ca/en/federal-election-fact-check-party-plans-save-canada-post" rel="nofollow">cagey</a>" about their commitment to fight for home delivery according to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and while Trudeau did <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/trudeau-promises-to-increase-funding-for-the-arts-and-cbc/article26474782/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">promise</a> to restore CBC funding, so did <a href="http://www.friends.ca/press-release/169%20Chretien" rel="nofollow">Chrétien</a> and his government gutted CBC funding. Keep on supporting these fights and let the Liberal government know we are watching.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Prisoners rights:</strong> Under the Harper government, the number of people in prisons increased, mandatory sentencing was increased, and prison overcrowding increased. According to Statistics Canada, criminal justice spending overall increased nationally by 23 per cent between 2002 and 2012. These are large increases, particularly as the crime rate in Canada has been dropping steadily for over 25 years.</p>
<p>Furthermore, Harper's "Tough on Crime" agenda has undermined the rights of prisoners. These statistics and assertions are excerpted from Paula Mallea's <a href="http://www.canadianprogressiveworld.com/2015/07/20/harpers-tough-on-crime-agenda-causing-more-prison-violence-rights-abuses/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">article</a> for Canadian Progressive on Harper's record. During the election, the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers <a href="http://rabble.ca/•%09http:/ucco-sacc-csn.ca/2015/10/20/liberal-government-elected-ucco-sacc-csn-welcomes-outcome-of-election/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">came out against Harper</a> and took an anybody but Harper approach because of the impact of the Harper government policies on both prisoners and the safety of workers. This great <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/after-a-decade-long-conservative-reign-whats-on-trudeaus-justice-agenda/article26885833/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">article</a> in the Globe and Mail outlines some of what Trudeau should be taking on to undo the damage done by Harper.</p>
<p>Take action:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Support the distribution of sterile injection equipment in prisons: In Canada, the prevalence of HIV and HCV infection among people in prison is at least 10 and 30 times higher, respectively, than in the overall population. If implemented, prison needle and syringe programs (PNSPs) would give people in prison access to the same health services available outside prisons, and also make workplaces safer for prison staff by reducing the likelihood of accidental injuries via non-sterile injection equipment shared by many people. Despite the overwhelming evidence of the benefits of PNSPs around the world, no Canadian prison currently permits the distribution of sterile injection equipment to prisoners. The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network developed <a href="http://rabble.ca/•%09http:/www.aidslaw.ca/site/election-2015-prisoners-right-to-health-canadas-major-federal-parties-respond/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">an election primer on federal party positions on this issue</a> and will be working to make sure that the government reviews their policy on sterile injection equipment.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>In Canada, <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/end-the-quiet-torture-of-solitary-confinement/article21996592/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">one out of every four prisoners</a> in the federal prison system has spent some time in solitary confinement. At any given time, there are as many as 1,800 people in solitary confinement in federal or provincial prisons. <strong>The BC Civil Liberties Association and the John Howard Society of Canada have launched a constitutional challenge to the use of solitary confinement in Canadian federal prisons.</strong> Solitary confinement, called "segregation" in the prison system, is the practice of confining a prisoner to a cell and depriving him or her of meaningful human contact for up to 23 hours a day, sometimes for months and years at a time. <a href="https://bccla.org/our-work/solitary-confinement/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Support and spread the word</a> about this issue and challenge.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>I know I am I'm missing other issues that people were organizing around here, so send me additional issues and I will create another blog. However, this is a long list and should provide some good initiatives to work with. We are not going to get what we want unless we keep on building these movements and supporting the good work people are doing to build a better Canada.</p>
</p>
</p></div></div></div>Fri, 23 Oct 2015 08:37:16 +0000The Activist Toolkit121185 at https://rabble.caHarper government rejects calls to make voting system fairer https://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/brent-patterson/2015/06/harper-government-rejects-calls-to-make-voting-system-fairer
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-14 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Brent Patterson</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/node-images/go-vote-guide_0.jpg?itok=icJ_Lfxd" width="1180" height="600" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>The Council of Canadians has long supported proportional representation.</p>
<p>We have consistently stated over the years that proportional representation is more democratic than our current first-past-the-post electoral system. It ensures a fairer representation of votes cast and prevents a governing party from holding total power after earning only a small percentage of the popular vote.</p>
<p>The <em>Globe and Mail</em> now <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-reject-plans-from-opposition-parties-to-change-voting-system/article25051883/" rel="nofollow">reports</a>, "Pressure is growing to change Canada's first-past-the-post electoral system, in which candidates can win their ridings -- and parties can form government -- with fewer than 50 per cent of the votes. Both of Canada's major opposition parties [the New Democrats and Liberals] say that if they win the Oct. 19 election under the current system, they will change the electoral process before the next ballot. ...[But] the Conservative Party said it would fight to keep the current system, stating voters have already laid out their opposition to different forms of proportional representation, including in referendums in Ontario and British Columbia."</p>
<p>In the May 2011 federal election under the first-past-the-post electoral system, the Conservatives won 39.62 per cent of the vote, 54.22 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons, and 100 per cent of the power. If proportional representation had been in place at that time, the Conservatives would have won 122 seats, 45 fewer seats than what they did secure and below what is required to form a majority government.</p>
<p>NDP MP Peter Julian <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-reject-plans-from-opposition-parties-to-change-voting-system/article25051883/" rel="nofollow">says</a>, "[October 19] would be the last unfair election. We'd be looking at consulting with Canadians. How we consult with Canadians, how we consult the provinces, how we put that into place is something that will be part of the discussions once we get the mandate." And Liberal leader Justin Trudeau <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-reject-plans-from-opposition-parties-to-change-voting-system/article25051883/" rel="nofollow">says</a>, "Our current system is not valuing the vote and input of far too many Canadians. ...We are fully committed to serious, in-depth consultation with Canadians, drawing on an all-party committee to study the forms of governance and of elections that will serve Canadians' interest not just in the short term, but in many elections to come."</p>
<p>Green Party leader Elizabeth May has previously <a href="http://www.greenparty.ca/en/media-release/2010-11-09/court-has-granted-elizabeth-may-right-make-case-proportional-representation" rel="nofollow">commented</a>, "[Democratic renewal] may mean forging ahead with proportional representation and taking lessons learned by other countries who have done the same to come up with an electoral process that is truly meaningful and engages all Canadian voters."</p>
<p>Given our current electoral system produces an unfair reflection of the overall vote, many people feel their vote doesn't count and so don't vote. This is a major concern of ours. Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow has commented, "We have to find a way, either through proportional representation or an alliance of progressive forces, to form a government that truly represents the views of the majority of Canadians." In April 2010, the Council of Canadians commissioned an Environics <a href="http://rabble.ca/news/2010/04/most-canadians-want-proportional-representation-council-canadians-poll" rel="nofollow">poll</a> that found that 62 per cent of Canadians support moving towards a system of proportional representation in Canadian elections.</p>
<p>The Council of Canadians encourages its supporters to state their support for proportional representation when candidates knock on your door for your vote. As noted in our <a href="http://canadians.org/voters-guide" rel="nofollow">Voter's Guide</a> you can ask them, "Will you commit to introducing electoral reform to ensure every vote counts in future elections?" We also encourage you to sign Fair Vote Canada's Declaration of Voters' Rights. The Declaration calls on federal parties and candidates to commit to conducting a citizen-led consultation process immediately following the next federal election and implementing a suitable form of proportional representation in time for the following election.</p>
<p>To add your name to this Declaration, please click <a href="https://secure.fairvote.ca/en/declaration" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</p>
<p>For more on our democracy campaign, which is focused on increasing voter turnout and ensuring that the Harper government's so-called 'Fair Elections Act' doesn't impede the right to vote, please click <a href="http://canadians.org/democracy" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</p>
</p></div></div></div>Tue, 23 Jun 2015 14:10:44 +0000Brent Patterson118777 at https://rabble.caVisit your MP about proportional representationhttps://rabble.ca/incahoots/2014/01/visit-your-mp-about-proportional-representation
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cahoots-organization/fair-vote-canada">Fair Vote Canada</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-story-publish-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">January 6, 2014</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/default_images/rabble-filler-photo.jpg" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-story-source field-type-link-field field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://secure.fairvote.ca/en/node/18756" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Visit your MP about proportional representation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-summary field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">From January 2nd to 26th, 2014, MPs are in their home ridings. Now is the time to tell them that we want equal, effective votes: That we want proportional representation.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/politics-canada">Politics in Canada</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/elections">Elections</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8726">Elections</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags-issues/democracy">democracy</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags-issues/proportional-representation">proportional representation</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags-issues/voting">voting</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9431">fair vote</a></div></div></div>Mon, 06 Jan 2014 16:32:38 +0000mattman105768 at https://rabble.caMichael Chong’s reform bill, a litmus test for democracyhttps://rabble.ca/incahoots/2013/12/michael-chong%E2%80%99s-reform-bill-litmus-test-democracy
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cahoots-organization/fair-vote-canada">Fair Vote Canada</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-story-publish-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">December 9, 2013</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/default_images/rabble-filler-photo.jpg" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-story-source field-type-link-field field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://www.fairvote.ca/michael-chongs-reform-bill-a-litmus-test-for-democracyprojet-de-reforme-de-michael-chong-un-test-decisif-pour-la-democratie/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Michael Chong’s reform bill, a litmus test for democracy</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-summary field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">The concentration of power in the PMO plays a role in the depletion of trust in our democracy. </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/politics-canada">Politics in Canada</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags-issues/democracy">democracy</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags-issues/political-parties">political parties</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags-issues/voting">voting</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9431">fair vote</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags/michael-chong">Michael Chong</a></div></div></div>Mon, 09 Dec 2013 20:36:58 +0000mattman105340 at https://rabble.caBob Rae joins Fair Vote Canada’s National Advisory Boardhttps://rabble.ca/incahoots/2013/07/bob-rae-joins-fair-vote-canada%E2%80%99s-national-advisory-board
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cahoots-organization/fair-vote-canada">Fair Vote Canada</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-story-publish-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">July 15, 2013</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/default_images/rabble-filler-photo.jpg" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-story-source field-type-link-field field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://www.fairvote.ca/bob-rae-joins-fair-vote-canadas-national-advisory-board-bob-rae-se-joint-au-conseil-consultatif-national-de-representation-equitable-au-canada/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bob Rae joins Fair Vote Canada’s National Advisory Board</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-summary field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Rae joins other distinguished Canadians from across the political spectrum on the Advisory Board, including David Suzuki, Lloyd Axworthy, Maude Barlow, Ed Broadbent and Hugh Segal.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/politics-canada">Politics in Canada</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/elections">Elections</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags-issues/democracy">democracy</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4780">Canadian politics</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags-issues/proportional-representation">proportional representation</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9431">fair vote</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags/fvc">FVC</a></div></div></div>Mon, 15 Jul 2013 18:27:13 +0000mattman102367 at https://rabble.caSpread the word with the Fair Vote Canada video contesthttps://rabble.ca/incahoots/2013/06/spread-word-fair-vote-canada-video-contest
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/cahoots-organization/fair-vote-canada">Fair Vote Canada</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-story-publish-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">June 24, 2013</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/default_images/rabble-filler-photo.jpg" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-story-source field-type-link-field field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://www.fairvote.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spread the word with the Fair Vote Canada video contest</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-summary field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">We’re looking for that video that will go viral, something that will educate Canadians about the “big idea” of proportional representation, and rally them to make 2015 the last unfair election.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/politics-canada">Politics in Canada</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/elections">Elections</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8726">Elections</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags-issues/proportional-representation">proportional representation</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9431">fair vote</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags-issues/fair-elections">fair elections</a></div></div></div>Mon, 24 Jun 2013 16:09:45 +0000mattman101974 at https://rabble.caGot good government? Not here https://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/i-read-news-today-oh-boy/2011/04/got-good-government-not-here
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-14 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/bios/rabble-staff/podcaster/contributor/blogger/matthew-adams">Matthew Adams</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/bios/stephen-benedetti">Stephen Benedetti</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-10 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/podcasts/shows/i-read-news-today-oh-boy">I Read The News Today, Oh Boy!</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/default_images/rabble-filler-photo.jpg?itok=sM2nM-OL" width="1180" height="600" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-story-publish-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">April 8, 2011</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/us-politics">US Politics</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/elections">Elections</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p></p><p>With an historical contempt finding, the Canadian government isn't looking so great and the election could mean things only get worse. The sad news is that until there is electoral reform it is hard to have tons of hope about Canadian democracy. At least the Canadian government is running, the U.S. government might shut down and no matter how much tea you drink, it isn't because of the budget. Plus our feature "Below the fold: News you might have missed."</p>
<p><a href="http://www.newsweek.com/2011/03/20/how-dumb-are-we.html" rel="nofollow">38% of Americans fail their own citizenship test</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110325/NEWS/110325015/Threats-cause-Iowa-community-cancel-controversial-anti-terror-training?odyssey=mod|lateststories " rel="nofollow">Theoretical threats become real threats</a></p>
<p><a href="http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/vermont-moves-improve-health-care-reform-s" rel="nofollow">Vermont looks to go single payer on health care (we told you so).</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2011/04/07/maine_labor_arts_removal_strikes_sensitive_nerve/?page=2 " rel="nofollow">Politics as art criticism</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/mar/31/wal-mart-us-supreme-court " rel="nofollow">Not a classy lawsuit</a> (but you can <a href="http://www.scotusblog.com/2011/03/last-week-at-the-court-in-plain-english-4/" rel="nofollow">get it plain language</a>)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_MS_0407915.pdf" rel="nofollow">Mississippi does it again</a></p>
<p>and we also referenced <a href="http://www.rabble.ca/news/2011/01/ten-reasons-oppose-harper-candidate-your-riding" rel="nofollow">Ten reasons to oppose the Harper candidate in your riding</a> and <a href="http://www.fairvote.ca/" rel="nofollow">Fair Vote Canada</a></p>
<p>Our theme song "Carrot Juice Is Murder" is used by permission by the A<a href="http://www.arrogantworms.com/" rel="nofollow">rrogant Worms</a>.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags-issues/harper">Harper</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags-issues/gop">GOP</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18372">Obama</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags-issues/proportional-representation">proportional representation</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags-issues/election">election</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9431">fair vote</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20922">public workers</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/26201">u.s. government</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-23 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/regions/ca">CA</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-mp3 field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">
<div class="jp-audio">
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</div></div></div>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:42:31 +0000mattman83064 at https://rabble.ca